Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 review

IMAGE QUALITY – click images to enlarge

Choosing a winner for image quality is a trickier call, but only because all four cameras are extremely capable. While the GF5 lagged behind the front runners for noise levels in low light, the GF6’s sensor is significantly better, with both lower noise and a higher 16-megapixel resolution. The Sony NEX-3N’s physically larger 16-megapixel sensor helped it to deliver the lowest noise levels in this group, but the GF6 wasn’t far behind. JPEGs started to get a little scruffy at ISO 1600, but it produced respectable snaps up to ISO 6400. Raw shots processed in Lightroom let us produce photos worthy of printing at ISO 6400.

CSC Shootout – IMAGE QUALITY TEST – Sony NEX-3N, Olympus Pen E-PM2, Nikon S1 and Panasonic GF6

Here we compare image quality, in numerous scenarios, between the four current budget CSCs. Click through to YouTube and view at 1080p for 1:1 pixel comparisons

The GF6 also delivered the most reliable image quality on automatic settings. Autofocus was consistently excellent, and exposure settings coped well in high contrast scenes. While the NEX-3N had the edge for image quality in controlled studio tests, the GF6 came out on top more often in our real-world test photos on automatic settings.

JPEGs are packed with detail and rich colours

The sensor and lens has done a fine job of picking out these dark fine details

Lens corner sharpness is excellent, and there’s barely any sign of chromatic aberrations

Details at ISO 3200 are a tad scruffy but at normal viewing and printing sizes it isn’t a concern

CONCLUSION

We’re spoiled for choice, with all four of the current entry-level CSCs offering superb photo and video quality. The devil is in the details, though, and it’s here that the GF6 comes out on top. Its articulated touchscreen makes it comfortable and quick to use, and the fast shot-to-shot times help too. It has Wi-Fi built in, and the widest range of compatible lenses (shared with the Olympus). It comes top for video capture, and in the final analysis, we’re tempted to say that it comes top for photo quality too. We so many strengths and no significant weaknesses, it’s a Best Buy.